Oct
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El Salvador in State of Emergency Due to Tropical Storm
El Salvador declared a state of emergency on October 14th, due to flooding from a Tropical Depression and rains that have continued for 12 days without a break. Another Tropical Storm is predicted for October 17th.
For a map of some of the damages caused by flooding and landslides see here.
At present, 20,000 people nationwide are in shelters and 36 people have died in mudslides or drowned in flooding.
The amount of rainfall has reached record breaking levels. The previous rainfall record was during hurricane Mitch in 1998 with 861 cubic millimeters of rainfall. The meteorological station in La Libertad had already registered 1,200 millimeters as of the 15th.
The storm has caused severe flooding in the CRIPDES Regions of San Vicente, La Libertad and Northern San Salvador, as well as in the regions of Achuachapan, La Paz, Sonsonate and Usulutan.
As of Friday the 14th, the government estimated over 14,000 houses had been lost. There are 577 landslides blocking roads and highways and many bridges have been washed out.
In Tecoluca, the levy of the Bajo Lempa river has overflowed, creating dangerous situations for the families in the region. Many families have been evacuated to shelters coordinated by CRIPDES, CORDES, and the municipal and national government. There are currently over 1,750 people in the temporary shelters from almost all of the coastal communities.
The rains have caused serious damage to crops across the country which will lead to people running out of food later in the year. Ironically, this coincides with the commemoration of World Food Day October 16th. As of Friday the 14th, 5726 acres of crops (corn, beans, plantains, and pipians) had been lost to the storm, and with some of the heaviest rains falling the on the 16th, that number has surely increased.
CRIPDES is calling on all international solidarity organizations to send funds so that they can provide the shelters with food, water, hygiene kits, medicine and clothing. When the immediate crisis is over, they will also need help working with affected communities in repairing their damaged homes and infrastructure.
Sister Cities has a CRIPDES disaster relief fund. To make a donation, please click here and email us the amount of your donation at sistercities@gmail.com so that we can advance emergency funds as soon as possible.
For more information in English about the disaster see:
Vulnerability originates in inequalities: Tropical Storm 12E wreaks havoc across Central America
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/maggie-von-vogt/2011/10/vulnerability-originates-inequalities-tropical-storm-12e-wreaks-hav
NY TIMES: Heavy Rains Wreak Havoc Through Central America
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/world/americas/heavy-rains-wreak-havoc-through-central-america.html
El Salvador still reeling from October floods
